With the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games just over a year away, Team England recently went down under and visited the many venues in the Gold Coast ahead of the 2018 Games.

Commonwealth Games England’s Chief Executive Paul Blanchard, Operations Director Louise Bell and Chef de Mission Sarah Winckless spent 10 days in Australia where they met with the local organising committee and saw the sights as preparations continue for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will run from 4 - 15 April 2018 and Team England is fully focused in sending the best prepared team to the Gold Coast, which will also be England’s largest ever team to represent the nation in an overseas sporting event.

During the visit, Team England visited the competition venues on the Gold Coast before heading up to Brisbane to inspect accommodation and training facilities and meet with organisers to discuss its preparation camp before the Games.

As part of its plans to send the best prepared team to the Gold Coast, CGE will hold a Team England preparation camp in Australia, create a performance centre inside the Commonwealth Games Village, offer a full programme of support services, and send a team of around 600 athletes and staff.

The Team England preparation camp will be held prior to the Games in Brisbane, just north to the Gold Coast, and will offer each sport the opportunity to spend up to 10 days acclimatising and training.

Team England’s preparation camp for the Gold Coast will include a number of specially selected high-performance sports facilities that will enable athletes to continue training and complete their final preparations prior to entering the Commonwealth Games Village.

The preparation camp will include a full team of medical, physio and support staff to ensure that team members benefit from the highest level of support required ahead of the Games.

To ensure that preparations were running smoothly for the 10 day preparation camp, Team England visited Minister for the Commonwealth Games Stirling Hinchliffe to discuss the set-up and were treated to a tour of the new Anna Meares Velodrome in Chandler.

Paul Blanchard said: “We are delighted to have chosen Brisbane as the venue for our preparation camp in 2018. The facilities are excellent and we are enjoying visiting ahead of sending our largest ever team for an overseas Games.

“Commonwealth Games England is fully focused on creating the best possible performance environment for Team England athletes, coaches and support staff and we feel that this is achievable in Brisbane next year.

“The facilities that we are creating for our athletes will give Team England the best chance of delivering more success for the nation at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. We believe that they will be the best prepared team to ever represent England at a Commonwealth Games.”